Web 2.0, Language Learning and Intercultural Competence

Whenever a new form of communication appears on the scene, it immediately becomes the object of discussion. This has been going on since the first penny press edition in 1834, whereas today discussions are carried out with reference to the Internet. The stability with which mass-media have faced different criticism can be well understood thanks to the functionalist analysis which considers the media as a social system working within an external system made up of a set of cultural and social conditions. In spite of its complexity, any set of repetitive actions contribute to maintaining or to weakening the stability of the system. We can say that globalization would not have been possible without the media and Web 2.0 may be of remarkable interest for its role in influencing cultural identity. All the past technologies, from electric light to the airplane, took a whole generation to gain ground among people, and Internet has not required such a long time. The impossibility to digest the new modalities of communication offered by the net creates the risk of unexpected contamination. Geographical magazines often show pictures of native Amazonians dressed in their traditional costumes while using computers and mobile phones. Educational uses of Web 2.0 and mobile learning tools have been rapidly expanded over the last few years and a great number of projects have been planned for teaching languages. Mobile learning includes many areas: handheld computers, MP3 players, notebooks and mobile phones. In this paper we shall outline the methodology including selection of web tools, task design, implementation and intercultural communication. The study carried out at the University of Florence shows that learners develop their communication competence while performing entertaining activities which enable them to achieve the desired goals

Efficacy of a New Hypotonic Oral Rehydration Solution Containing Zinc and Prebiotics in the Treatment of Childhood Acute Diarrhea: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a hypotonic oral rehydration solution (ORS) containing zinc and prebiotics for treatment of acute diarrhea in children. Study design: We conducted a single-blind, prospective, controlled trial including children (age range, 3-36 months) with acute diarrhea randomly assigned to standard hypotonic ORS (group 1) or to new hypotonic ORS containing zinc and prebiotics (group 2). The main outcome was the rate of resolution of diarrhea at 72 hours. Results: A total of 60 children in group 1 (34 male; mean age, 18.58 months; 95% CI, 15.5-21.6) and 59 in group 2 (36 male; mean age, 19.26 months; 95% CI, 15.9-22.6) completed the study protocol. The rate of diarrhea resolution at 72 hours was higher in group 2 (50% versus 72.9%, P = .010). Total ORS intake in the first 24 hours was higher in group 2 (50 mL/kg; 95% CI, 41-59 versus 22 mL/kg; 95% CI, 17-29; P < .001). The mean number of missed working days by the parents of children in group 2 was lower (0.39; 95% CI, 0.08-0.70 versus 1.45; 95% CI 1.02-1.88; P < .001). Fewer patients in group 2 needed adjunctive drugs for the treatment of diarrhea 6/59 versus 19/60, P = .004. No adverse events were observed in either of the two groups. Conclusion: The addition of zinc and prebiotics to ORS limits diarrhea duration in children. Copyright © 2011 Mosby Inc. All rights reserved

Liposomal irinotecan: formulation development and therapeutic assessment in murine xenograft models of colorectal cancer

ABSTRACT Purpose: The purpose is to demonstrate whether an appropriately designed liposomal formulation of irinotecan is effective in treating mice with liver-localized colorectal carcinomas. Experimental Design: Irinotecan was encapsulated in 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine/cholesterol (55:45 molar ratio) liposomes using an ionophore (A23187)-generated transmembrane proton gradient. This formulation was evaluated in vivo by measuring plasma elimination of liposomal lipid and drug after i.v. administration. Therapeutic activity was determined in SCID/Rag-2M mice bearing s.c. LS180 tumors or orthotopic LS174T colorectal metastases. Results: Drug elimination from the plasma was significantly reduced when irinotecan was administered in the liposomal formulation. At 1 hour after i.v. administration, circulating levels of the liposomal drug were 100-fold greater than that of irinotecan given at the same dose. High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of plasma samples indicated that liposomal irinotecan was protected from inactivating hydrolysis to the carboxylate form. This formulation exhibited substantially improved therapeutic effects. For the LS180 solid tumor model, it was shown that after a single injection of liposomal irinotecan at 50 mg/kg, the time to progress to a 400-mg tumor was 34 days (as compared with 22 days for animals treated with free drug at an equivalent dose). In the model of colorectal liver metastases (LS174T), a median survival time of 79 days was observed after treatment with liposomal irinotecan (50 mg/kg, given every 4 days for a total of three doses). Saline and free drug treated mice survived for 34 and 53 days, respectively. Conclusions: These results illustrate that liposomal encapsulation can substantially enhance the therapeutic activity of irinotecan and emphasize the potential for using liposomal irinotecan to treat liver metastases

Outcomes of MIS-C patients treated with anakinra: a retrospective multicenter national study

BackgroundThe treatment of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children unresponsive to first-line therapies (IVIG and/or steroids) is challenging. The effectiveness of IL-1 receptor antagonist, anakinra, is debated.Patients and methodsWe conducted an anonymous retrospective multicenter study on MIS-C patients treated with anakinra in Italy from January 2020 to February 2021. Our study outcomes included the percentage of patients who required further therapeutic step-up, the percentage of patients who experienced fever resolution within 24 h and a reduction of CRP by half within 48 h, and the percentage of patients who developed Coronary Artery Anomalies (CAA) during follow-up.Results35 cases of MIS-C were treated in 10 hospitals. Of these, 13 patients started anakinra while in the ICU, and 22 patients started anakinra in other wards. 25 patients (71.4%) were treated with corticosteroids at a starting dose 2–30 mg/Kg/day plus IVIG (2 g/Kg), 10 patients (28.6%) received only corticosteroids without IVIG. Anakinra was administered intravenously to all patients in Group A (mean dose 8 mg/Kg/day), and subcutaneously in Group B (mean dose 4 mg/Kg/day). Only two patients required further treatment step-up and no patients developed CAA after receiving anakinra. The most commonly observed side effect was an increase in ALT, occurring in 17.1% of patients.ConclusionsIn this retrospective cohort of severe MIS-C patients treated with anakinra we report favorable clinical outcomes with a low incidence of side effects. The simultaneous use of steroids ± IVIG in these patients hinders definitive conclusions regarding the need of IL-1 inhibition in MIS-C treatment

Il PEL in chiave inclusiva: biografie linguistiche in rete

The study concerns inclusive language education of young people and adults with a research on the pedagogical function of the Language Biography of the European Language Portfolio. The research study involved students attending a course offered by University of Florence. Among the aims of the course to provide students with practical experiences and metacognitive activities on Language Biography with a view to merging ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) with language learning. The article reports on this experience, using data gathered from student questionnaires, showing the potential of Language Biography as a tool for inclusive teaching and learning and consciously working to foster learning across differences \u2013 of languages, cultures, needs, motivations, experiences, skills \u2013 that characterize each learner

Sviluppare abilit\ue0 e competenze interculturali. Da un modello di competenza comunicativa interculturale a un percorso didattico nella classe plurilingue

A partire da un\u2019esperienza svolta in un corso universitario, il saggio propone un percorso di educazione alla comunicazione interculturale applicabile in contesti glottodidattici diversi, con pi\uf9 tipologie di studenti. Si descrive quindi un percorso su piattaforma Moodle, parallelo alle attivit\ue0 svolte in aula, che ha permesso a persone di diverso background culturale, esperienziale, linguistico di soffermarsi sulla comunicazione in contesto interculturale, di applicare modelli e conoscenze teoriche alla pratica e di sviluppare abilit\ue0 relazionali interculturali

Ricerca e formazione in linguistica educativa: il ruolo delle associazioni di insegnanti di lingue

ANILS, l'associazione italiana degli insegnanti di lingue non native, è stata creata nel 1947, e da 75 anni è attiva in: (a) definire il ruolo delle lingue straniere e seconde nel sistema scolastico italiano, mentre si è passati dal divieto fascista dell'insegnamento delle lingue straniere alla domanda di lingue nell'Europa multilingue, nelle economie globalizzate, negli anni delle migrazioni dai paesi in via di sviluppo verso l'Europa; (b) formazione degli insegnanti di lingue, mediazione tra la ricerca linguistica educativa nel mondo e la sua attuazione nel contesto del sistema scolastico italiano; (c) fornire informazioni e dati sul campo ai linguisti dell'educazione, sia attraverso la sua rivista, Scuola e Lingue Moderne, sia attraverso l'azione di accademici che collaborano con ANILS. Questo numero di EL. LE affronta le tre questioni di cui sopra, concentrando il suo ruolo nell'unire ricerca e pratica

Distinctive Phenotype of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children Associated with SARS-CoV-2 According to Patients&rsquo; Age: A Monocentric Experience

Background: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a disease temporally related to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and it is characterized by fever, conjunctival injections, rash, gastrointestinal symptoms, and cardiovascular complications. We evaluated the clinical presentation, laboratory findings, imaging features, therapeutic interventions, and hospital course of a monocentric cohort, and we analyzed these findings according to two age groups. Methods: Patients with MIS-C admitted to a Tertiary Care Pediatric Hospital from November 2020 to November 2021 were considered for the enrollment. Results: Overall, 35 consecutive patients were included. Most of the children did not require intensive care unit at the admission. The clinical presentation of MIS-C slightly differs according to age groups. Mucocutaneus involvement was more frequent in younger patients, while abdominal symptoms were present in 54% of patients aged less than 5 years and in 95% of patients aged more than 5 years (p &lt; 0.05). In addition, the number of cases with troponin above the normal reference value was significantly higher in older patients (77%) compared to younger cases (15%) (p &lt; 0.01). Conclusions: MIS-C is a new emerging condition and represents a challenge to pediatricians due to the severity of presentation. Further studies to better characterize the long-term outcome of MIS-C patients are mandatory

Distinctive Phenotype of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children Associated with SARS-CoV-2 According to Patients’ Age: A Monocentric Experience

Background: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a disease temporally related to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and it is characterized by fever, conjunctival injections, rash, gastrointestinal symptoms, and cardiovascular complications. We evaluated the clinical presentation, laboratory findings, imaging features, therapeutic interventions, and hospital course of a monocentric cohort, and we analyzed these findings according to two age groups. Methods: Patients with MIS-C admitted to a Tertiary Care Pediatric Hospital from November 2020 to November 2021 were considered for the enrollment. Results: Overall, 35 consecutive patients were included. Most of the children did not require intensive care unit at the admission. The clinical presentation of MIS-C slightly differs according to age groups. Mucocutaneus involvement was more frequent in younger patients, while abdominal symptoms were present in 54% of patients aged less than 5 years and in 95% of patients aged more than 5 years (p p < 0.01). Conclusions: MIS-C is a new emerging condition and represents a challenge to pediatricians due to the severity of presentation. Further studies to better characterize the long-term outcome of MIS-C patients are mandatory